Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has weighed in on the ongoing tensions involving activist Omoyele Sowore and social media personality VeryDarkMan, urging restraint and dialogue among the parties.
In a statement, Kuti said he had personally reached out to both Sowore and VeryDarkMan in an attempt to mediate, but claimed his advice was not heeded. He expressed concern over the nature of accusations being exchanged, particularly claims linking Sowore to controversial figure Blord.
Kuti emphasized the principle of presumption of innocence, arguing that individuals should not be labeled criminals without due legal process. “Everybody is innocent until proven guilty,” he said, questioning the approach of public condemnation without formal conviction.
He also raised broader concerns about Nigeria’s justice system, criticizing what he described as inconsistencies in law enforcement. According to him, suspects should not necessarily be detained before investigations are concluded, suggesting alternatives such as travel restrictions where necessary.
The musician further pointed to what he يرى as selective justice, questioning the prosecution rate of individuals involved in serious crimes such as terrorism and kidnapping compared to high-profile or social media-related cases.
Kuti added that he, Sowore, and VeryDarkMan have all, at different times, faced challenges with authorities, using their experiences to highlight perceived systemic issues.
His comments come amid ongoing debates online, reflecting wider public concerns about accountability, due process, and the role of law enforcement in Nigeria.
